Pyrotechnic display device



Aug. ll, il93l. T, G. Hm 1,818,478

PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY DEVIL Filed March 11, 1930 Patented Aug. 11, 1931PATENT ()FFHCE THOMAS GABRIEL HITT, OF SEATTLE, "VASHINGTON'PYROTECHNIC' DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed March 11, 1930. 7 SerialNo. 434,979.

This invention relates to pyrotechnic dis play devices and has for itsobject the provision of combustible means capable when ignited, ofproducing a brilliant shower spectacle, the shower being confinedsubstantially to a single plane, whereby the direc-v tion of thedispersal of the sparks may be controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide suspending means incombination with the combustible portion of the device, of good heatconductivity for the purpose of quenching the combustion of that part ofthe device immediately supported by the suspending means so that no partof the device shall fall until it has been completely con- 1 sumed.

Still another object of the invention relates to the novel process formanufacturing the pyrotechnic display device.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred and practicalembodiment of the invention is illustrated and wherein the samecharacters of reference are used throughout the several figures todesignate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pyrotechnic display device showingthe same suspended from a rod.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken for instance along the line 22 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the blank, and the suspending device inposition in a step of the process of manufacturing the device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of theinvention.

Referring now in detail to the several figures and first adverting tothat form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the combustibleportion of the device is denoted by the reference character 1, the samebeing shown suspended by a wire bail 2.

The combustible portion is formed as shown in Figure 8, of a sheet ofpaper or other suitable inflammable material 3, upon one side of whichis spread a plastic composition 4, the specific ingredients of which arenot material to the present invention, it being only essential that thematerial be combustible in nature and include as a constituent somesubstance capable of becoming incandescent during the combustion, suchfor instance as a chemicalmixture of aluminum or other substances wellknown in the art of pyrotechnics. The plastic composition alsopreferably includes an ingredient which adheres to the paper, theplastic composition being spread in the form of a wet paste, whereuponthe paper is folded upon itself, preferably in the middle, so as toenclose on both sides, the plastic composition, forming a laminatedsheet in which the plastic composition is exposed only at the side andlower edges. The wire bail 2, bent as shown in Figure 3 or otherwise asmay seem most ad'- vantageous in the manufacture and use of the article,has the end portions 5 thereof laid upon the wet side of the pastedsheet as shown, so that when the sheet 3 is folded the ends 5 of thebail are enclosed in the fold and preferably in contact with the plasticcomposition. When the latter dries, the two sides of the folded sheetare firmly adhered together. v I The pyrotechnic device may'then besuspendedin any suitable manner and preferably from a high elevation andignited at its lower most portion. The paper sheet 3 is less activelycombustible than the plastic combustion so that the twosides of thefolded paper sheet act as curtains to inhibit the projection of thesparks, limiting the emanation of the sparks to the exposed edges of thecombustible composition so that the resulting shower is confined to aplane. This promotes the safety of the firework so that it may be heldwith one of the plane sides tangent to the front of the body or parallelto any surface without the danger of any sparks flying forwardly orrearwardly of the device. The confining of the combustion to the edgeportions of the laminated sheet also enhances the force of projection ofthe incandescent particles, thus increasing the trajectory of saidparticles and increasing the breadth of the shower.

The bail 2 being of metallic wire and, having the ends 5 thereof withinthe fold of the sheet 3, acts as a. heat dissipating device,

withdrawing heat from those portions of the combustible layer adjacentthe ends 5 so that when the combustion has substantially reached theends 5, it is retarded by the withdrawal of heat, giving time for thelaminated sheet to burn up evenly to both corners before either corneris entirely consumed, thus preventing any portion of the unconsumed andstill burning sheet from falling to the ground.

In Figure 4:, the slight modification consists in the substitution of astraight wire 6 for the bail 2 shown in Figure 3. This straight wirepasses continuously through the apex of the fold and the free ends 7 maybe bent by the user of the device around any suitable support. The bailin this instance acts as a combustion retarder all along the apex of thefold, giving time for the whole sheet to burn up to the apex before thelatter is consumed, thus preventing any part of the device from fallinguntil it is entirely burned out.

It has been found experimentally that the shape of the folded laminatedsheet materially affects the spread of the shower and that for mostspectacular results, the laminated sheets should be wider at the top andconverged toward the lowermost end.

As shown in dotted lines at 8 in Figure 1, the lowermost portion of thepyrotechnic display device may, if desired, be rounded so that itmay bemost conveniently lit at the bottom of the arc.

IVhile I have in the above description endeavored to disclose what Ibelieve to be a preferred and practical form of the invention, it is tobe understood that the specific details are merely by way of example andare not to be considered limitative in their relation to the scope ofthe invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated combustible sheetincluding an intermediate layer, adapted to be vertically suspended,said intermediate layer being more actively combustible than the outerlayers, whereby the latter restrict the emanation of the combustingproducts of the intermediate layer to a plane substantially embracingthe edges of the sheet.

2. A pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated combustible sheetincluding an intermediate layer adapted to be vertically suspended, saidintermediate layer being more actively combustible than the outer layerswhereby the latter restrict the combusting products of the intermediatelayer to emanation edgewise of the sheet, and suspending means includinga metal portion arranged at the top of said sheet in contact with theintermediate layer thereof.

3. A pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated combustible sheetincluding an intermediate layer having the property of throwing outincandescent sparks while burning, said sheet being adapted to bevertically suspended, said intermediate layer being more activelycombustible than the outer layers whereby the latter restrict thecombusting products of the intermediate layer to emanation edgewise ofthe sheet.

i. A pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated sheet, includingpaper outside layers and an intermediate layer of a substance having theproperty of throwim off incandescent sparks While burning, sai outerlayer being continuous over the top of said intermediate layer, and wiresuspending means having a portion extending within said outer layer atthe top thereof.

5. Pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated sheet including anintermediate highly combustible layer interleaved be tween the sides ofa. folded sheet of less degree of combustibility.

6. Pyrotechnic display device comprising a laminated sheet including anintermediate highly combustible layer interleaved between the sides of afolded sheet of less degree of combustibility, and suspending means forsaid device adjacent the line of fold.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS GABRIEL HITT.

